Electric fuse.



.l. 0. CAMP.

ELECTRIC FUSE.

APPLICATION men sEPT. z. 1916.

1,258,186. Patented Max. 5,191&

Witnesse Inventor Attor neys JAMES OSCAR CAMP, OF NEW DECATUR, ALABAMA.

ELECTRIC FUSE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Application filed September 7, 1916. Serial No. 118,879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES O. CAMP, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Decatur, in the county of Morgan and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Electric Fuse, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to electric fuses, such as are used for protecting an electric circuit to break the circuit should it be subjected to an overcharge of electrical energy, and it is the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved electric fuse provided with a plurality of fuse wires or elements and means for bringing one of said wires into operative relation with the other parts, whereby any one of the fuse wires can be brought into the circuit.

It is the object of the invention to provide a fuse having a plurality of fuse wires or elements as indicated, in order that the fuse can be made adjustable for various amperes of current when the several fuse wires are of various sizes for various amperes, or in order that the fuse can be used repeatedly after being blown, since if the several fuse wires are for the same amperage, when one fuse wire is fused, the device can be set to bring another fuse wire into the circuit, an so on until all of the fuse wires are used up.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse having the features above noted, and which at the same time is simple and inexpensive in construction, and which will provide for economy and convenience in the use thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which yvill appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein 2- 'Figure 1 is a diametrical section of a plug type of fuse embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a reduced cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a cartridge type fuse embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the second form of fuse.

The plug type fuseillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is in its general construction the same as ordinary plug fuses, and embodies a cup shaped body 1 of porcelain or other insulating material, and a threaded shell or sleeve 2 upon the body to screw it to the fuse socket as usual. The closed end of the body 1 has a boss 8 projecting from the end of the sleeve 2-, and the open end of the body is closed as usual by an isinglass or similar transparent disk 4 in order that the fuse wire or Wires can be seen.

In carrying out the invention, instead of using a single fuse wire or element, a plurality of such wires or elements 5 are used,.

six as illustrated. The wires 5 are located within the body 1 and are spaced apart, having their outer ends electrically connected with the sleeve 2 so as to be electrically connected with the shell of the socket when the fuse is applied thereto. The inner ends of the fuse wires 5 extend into the inner closed end or boss 3 of the body 1 and are provided with contacts 6 embedded in the boss in an annular series.

As a means for bringing any one of the wires 5 into the circuit, there is provided a radial contact arm or spring 7 resting against the face of the boss 3 and pivotally secured thereto by means of a rivet 8 or other suitable pivot element. The free end of the contact arm or spring 7 is engageable in succession with the contacts 6, and the arm or spring 7 which is resilient so as to press against the boss 3 and contacts 6, can be readily'swung from one contact to another, and will be frictionally held in any position to Which it is swung. The contact arm 7 is engageable with the central contact terminal of the fuse socket. When arm 7 is set to engage one contact 6, the respective fuse wire 5 will be, brought into the circuit, and in the event of an overcharge, said fuse wire will be fused.

With the present fuse, the several fuse wires can all be alike, whereby when one fuse wire is burnt out, the arm 7 can be swung to engage another contact 6, to bring another fuse wire into the circuit. This permits of the repeated use of the fuse, providing for less expense than is the case with L ordinary fuses which must be discarded when once burned out.

The fuse can be made adjustable for various amperages, by using wires 5 of different sizes, and the desired sized fuse wire can be brought into the circuit by properly setting the contact arm 7 Such a fuse will be of advantage since it can be used for currents of various amperes, without requiring special fuses for the various currents.

In order to prevent the blowing of one fuse wire from affecting the remaining ones, itis preferable to provide fire proof insulation between the several fuse wires. Thus, a star-shaped barrier having radial partitions 9 can be fitted in the body 1 to provide separate. compartments for the fuse wires, said partitions being composed of any suitable fire proof material, such as asbestos, or'

the like.

A cartridge type used is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, and embodies the principles of the invention. Thus, the plurality of fuse wires or elements 5 are employed, the

same extending longitudinally between the.

ends of the fuse, and said wires have contacts 6 at one end of the fuse and a contact arm or spring 7 is engageable with said contacts and is pivoted to the end of the fuse,

as at 8. The arm or spring 7 or its pivot 8' is connected electrically to the end shell or cap of the fuse.

Having thus described the invention, what isclaimed as new is Amultiple fuse having a cup-shaped body the closed end thereof provided with an annular series of countersinks, contacts secured in the countersinks, a plurality of fuse elements connected to the contacts and located within the body, a sleeve surrounding the body and electrically connected with said fuse elements, a contact spring pivoted to the closed end of the fuse body, there being a projection on the spring adapted to enter the countersinks and engagethe contacts, to bring the respective fuse elements-in series with said contact spring and sleeve, and a star-shaped barrier fitted within the body and having radial partitions extending between said fuse elements.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES OSCAR CAMP. 

